~ Your skincare resource

Make 2013 all about you! As you settle into the new year and your busy daily routine, don’t forget to make time for yourself . Put your total body health at the top of your resolution list and soothe your skin and body with these blissful products and services available at Broadway Skin & Body Retreat!

Reflexology:
Harmonize your mind and body with a complimentary Reflexology add-on service when you schedule a 60 or 90 minute Therapeutic Massage during the month of January. This relaxing treatment concentrates on pressure points and massage techniques on the feet. Reflexology helps balance and detoxify, resulting in relief of headaches, sinus congestion, body tension, and many stress related conditions. Specifically designed to enhance total body wellness and general health.Duration: 15 minutes ($25 Value)

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Fall is quickly approaching and I couldn’t be more thrilled. While I’m counting the days until the temperature is cool enough to enjoy tall boots, cozy sweaters, and my favorite fall trend, leather jackets, I am also excited to update my make-up palette with the fantasy inspired hues of fall. This season get inspired by bold and whimsical shades and add a little drama to the fall by mixing up darks, brights and neutrals. Check out my favorite looks for fall below.

I absolutely adore this look. The rose gold hues on the eyes and glossy red lip are a great combination for a night out this fall.

I have always been a fan of plum eye shadow shades. This color is ideal for intensifying green eyes and is a perfect color for the fall season.

While summer was the perfect season to experiment with playful bright lip colors, this season try toning it down with more sophisticated berry shades.

You can still maintain the fresh faced look this fall with beautiful golden and peachy hues.

I love bold and whimsical shades of green. Whether it’s a muted chartreuse, or vibrant ultramarine green, don’t be afraid to liven up your normal make-up routine by incorporating a pop of color in the mix.

A beautiful rendition on the traditional smokey eye, this look adds a bit of pizzazz by incorporating gold and brown hues with a touch of sparkle.

For more make-up ideas and inspiration click HERE to visit my
Hair and Make-Up page on Pinterest.

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Many of my clients have expressed frustration and confusion as to why they still experience skin breakouts well into adulthood. While we often associate acne with our adolescent years, skin breakouts can actually be an external reflection of your internal health. Face mapping is a method stemming from ancient chinese medicine used by many Estheticians and Dermatologists to determine potential causes of acne and how to control it. Click here to view details regarding the various “zones” of the face and how your breakouts correspond with your overall health.

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Create the aroma and results of spa products and treatments in the comfort of your own home! Check out my favorite DIY spa product recipes that are easy to make and will keep your skin smooth and radiant between professional spa visits!

Homemade Lotion Bars
Lotion bars are unique and easy to use. They also make great gifts! I can’t wait to try this DIY recipe this holiday season!

DIY Mud Scrub
This invigorating scrub combines sugar and coffee grounds to redistribute fat cells and decrease the formation of cellulite. Caffeine also acts as a vasorestrictor, tightening and shrinking blood vessels which helps to eliminate the appearance of varicose veins while sugar gently resurfaces the skin eliminating the build up of dry, dead surface cells.

The Miracle Mask
Nutmeg, honey, and cinnamon are the miracle workers in this mask. This easy DIY facial treatment exfoliates your skin while the key ingredients act as anti-inflammatories, reducing swelling and redness.

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Lately I have been loving the hydrating and healing effects of Vitamin E oil (tocopherol). I enjoy concocting my own aromatherapy bath and body products and I often use Vitamin E oil as the carrier oil in my homemade products. Carrier oils are used to “carry” essential oils into the skin. Recently I made my own salt scrub using Dead Sea Salt I purchased from the Herb Store in Nob Hill and mixed it with Vitamin E oil and lavender essential oil for a soothing and feminine aroma. I also apply Vitamin E oil directly on my face and body on a regular basis for ultimate moisturizing benefits. I alternate essential oil scents depending on my mood or skincare need at the time. My favorites are Lavender and Rose, both non-irritating and ideal for soothing sensitive skin.

Vitamin E penetrates deep below the skin’s surface to repair and rejuvenate damaged skin cells. It is also ideal for minimizing the appearance of scarring, sun damage, and wrinkles. Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant and serves as a defense against bacterial infections and helps to heal cuts and other skin abrasions and is often referred to as nature’s healing agent. Because Vitamin E has the ability to delay the conversion of soluble collagen to insoluble collagen (which is responsible for scar formation), this is a great topical to apply to minimize stretch marks while pregnant.

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I am so pleased to introduce my first guest blogger to contribute to Broadway Beauty. Melanie Bowen joined the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in 2011 as an awareness advocate for natural health and cancer cure initiatives. You will often find her highlighting the great benefits of alternative nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments on those diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness. Bowen resides in upstate New York and also assists in social media outreach in an effort to spread awareness.

Battling cancer can be one of the most difficult experiences a person can go through and the process of getting treatment can take a toll on both the body and the mind. While not clinically proven to provide a medical benefit or cure for cancer, massage therapy can help alleviate pain and mental distress throughout the treatment process.

According to an article in Current Oncology, therapeutic massage can help people with cancer improve their ability to cope with the condition, ameliorate symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment, and generally enhance quality of life. While the effects of massage are typically short- term, they can be invaluable for patients.

From patients with mesothelioma to acute myeloid leukemia, the primary benefit of massage therapy for cancer patients is alleviation of pain. Many cancer treatments, as well as the cancer itself, result in patients feeling fatigued, sore, or achy. Therapeutic massage can help patients reduce muscle tension and relax the body, helping to reduce that pain. There is also some evidence from limited clinical trials that massage therapy strengthens the lymphatic system.

In addition to relaxing the body, massage can also help to ease the mind. While massage therapy can help anyone manage stress and day-to-day concerns, therapeutic massage can be particularly helpful for people coping with cancer and cancer treatment by helping to reduce symptoms and improve one’s mental outlook. Massage therapy can relieve anxiety and depression in cancer patients and enhance relaxation.

Overall, massage is a very safe therapeutic activity. However, cancer patients should only use a licensed masseuse and inform them of the type of cancer and any pharmaceutical treatments the patient is undergoing.

Patients should also consult with their oncologist before undergoing any massage therapy. The link between massage and the body’s reaction to it is still not fully understood, so communication between the masseur, the patient, and a physician is essential for the best outcomes.

However, if there are potential benefits within a natural alternative to cancer treatment, why not indulge yourself and soak up all that it has to offer? Give your body, mind and spirit a vacation from some of life’s everyday stressors and go get a massage today and make treatment a little easier on your soul.

At Broadway Retreat, our trained Massage Therapists understand that massage treatments provide heightened benefits not only for those who wish to relax and unwind, but for people struggling with trauma, distress, and pain. We hope to assist Melanie Bowen’s outreach efforts and encourage cancer patients to consider massage as an outlet to cope, heal, and calm.

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I absolutely love facial masks. Not only does this beauty ritual repair and improve your skin over time, but I truly feel that after a quality skincare mask application, my skin instantly glows and looks healthier than it did before. While I do alternate masks depending on my skincare concern of the day or week, right now I am loving 100% Pure’s Pineapple Enzyme Facial Peel Mask. It seems to combat all of my skin blunders in one setting. It is gentle yet effective and it is the perfect remedy for dull, dehydrated, congested skin.

This mask comes in a powder form and can me mixed with water, tea, juice or yogurt. Once mixed to form a paste and applied to the skin, pineapple and papaya enzymes along with vitamin C effectively peel dead surface cells, revealing a brighter, glowing complexion.

Call me today for a facial with this luxurious treatment mask. Also available to take home for only $17 now at Broadway Retreat
505-246-2400

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I’ve mentioned many times before that fall and winter are my favorite seasons, but I love how bright and inviting the spa feels during the summertime. Here are some recent spa pics that convey all the refreshing feelings of summer…

The front porch of the spa. I love how the bright flowers peer through the fence.

We recently added a beautiful new front desk. It was originally a bar, but works marvelously in the cozy reception room and makes the ambiance complete.

These beautiful flowers were recently given to me by one of my favorite clients, Nancy Weaver. She is always bringing me the most lovely flowers from her garden.

The retail section of the spa displays our favorite skin and body products from Image and 100% Pure Skincare.

I’m strangely obsessed with my Nicolette statue. I’ve had this piece since I was 21 and I have carted her along with me for all these years. I realize she looks a little creepy in this pic but I think she belongs in the spa. 🙂

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While the benefits of receiving a professional facial support a healthy complexion, reduce wrinkles, clear breakouts, and soothe and treat various skin conditions, the benefits of facial treatments and the overall spa experience are far beyond skin deep.

The skin is our largest organ and aside from treating the surface conditions, the stimulation and warmth of human touch during a facial can create the feeling of relaxation and comfort that is not only beneficial for circulation, but also the spirit.

When we get stressed it not only feels unsettling on the inside, it is often exposed on our face in the form of breakouts, a dull complexion, and other skin irritations. It is important to take care of our minds and bodies and that’s when scheduling yourself a professional spa treatment is no longer a luxury but a necessity for our overall well being.